Born in Trenton, Tennessee, Gene Hickerson was an outstanding fullback at Trezevant High School in Memphis before he became a tackle at the University of Mississippi. He was regarded as one of the best, if not the finest, linemen in the SEC by the end of his collegiate career.

The Cleveland Browns wasted little time in securing him for their offensive line. The Browns selected him as a future choice in the 7th round of the 1957 NFL Draft.

Hickerson joined the Browns in 1958 and was promptly shifted to guard to better utilize his speed. He quickly went from delivering plays to the huddle to establishing himself as the steady lead blocker for three future Hall of Fame running backs: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly.

After just three season in the NFL, Hickerson's career was slowed when he suffered a broken leg in the 1961 pre-season opener. He fractured the leg again late in the year when he was hit while watching a game from the sideline. He rebounded fully by the following season. After sitting out two games in 1962, he never missed another game for the remainder of his stellar career. Along the way, he gained the reputation as the lead guard for Jim Brown, regarded as one of the game's greatest runners.

But, the official accolades really did not come until after Brown retired and Leroy Kelly became Cleveland's featured back. Hickerson earned first-team All-NFL acclaim five straight seasons, 1966-1970, and was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1971. By the time Hickerson retired following the 1973 season at the age of 38, his accomplishments on the football field were unquestioned. During his tenure, the Browns never experienced a losing season. In all, he played in 202 games during his career and started at right guard in four NFL title games that included the Browns' 27-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship Game.

Prior to Hickerson joining the Browns, there had been just seven runners in the entire history of the NFL to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season. With Hickerson paving the way, the Browns featured a 1,000-yard rusher in nine of Hickerson's first 10 pro seasons.